DOMINO RULES

ABOUT YOUR DOUBLE 6 DOMINO SET

The set consists of 28 dominoes. There are 7 doubles
(same number on both ends from double blank to
double six) and 21 singles (different numbers on both
ends or a number and a blank).

FUNDAMENTALS OF DOMINOES

There are countless different domino games and within
each game, there are many variations of play available.
The purpose of this set of rules is to get you started with
a few simple and popular games. Later, we'll give you
reference information for finding many other games you
would enjoy.

One of the wonderful things about dominoes is that
anyone can learn the basics very quickly, but as you play
and progress, you will find many additional levels of the
game and as your experience and skills develop, you will
become a more and more formidable player. Get started
with these simple games and you will find yourself
getting smarter every time you play. Dominoes is a good
game for your brain.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Two to Four people can play the games we'll show you
here. If Four are playing, each person can play individually
or you can group into two teams.

MATCHING

The basis of most domino games is to lay down a domino
next to another domino so that the numbers
(or blanks) on adjacent dominoes match each other.

The first domino played is call the "set". It could be
anything, but here is an example
Singles dominoes are placed on the table making a line
of play.
Double dominoes are played across the line of play

TURNING FOR CONVENIENCE

Although you normally play in a line, if you run out of
table space, you can play a domino at a 90 degree angle
to give yourself more room.
And then further play continues in a linear fashion from
either end.

WHO DRAWS FIRST? WHO PLAYS FIRST

There are variations, but here is a starting point:Turn the
dominoes upside down on the table and mix them
around. Then have each player draw one domino. The
player who draws the highest domino (based on total
number of dots) will draw first and also make the first
play of the game.

Now return those dominoes to the table and mix them
again. Now draw the dominoes for the playing of the
hand. The person who won the right to play first draws
first. Each player may draw all the dominoes for the
hand or you can go around the table with each player
drawing one domino until all have the dominoes needed
to start play.

Each player places the dominoes on their side with the
back facing the other players so they cannot see which
dominoes their opponents are holding.

THE PLAY

Each player in turn lays down a single domino according
to the rules of the game being played. Play
proceeds clockwise around the table. If a
player has a playable domino, he must play it when
his turn comes. You cannot hold back a playable
domino for strategic reasons.

GAME #1: BLOCK

This is the simplest domino game.

Numbers of players:2 to 4

The Objective: Get rid of all the dominoes in your hand

The Set-Up:After the shuffle, with two players, each
player draws seven dominoes.With three or four players,
each player draws 5 dominoes. The remaining dominoes
stay face down on the table and are available to be drawn
by each player during play. (These remaining dominoes
are called the boneyard)

The object is simply to get rid of all the dominoes you
hold. Whoever does this first wins the hand.At the same
time, each player tries to block the other player so he
cannot make a play.

The Play: Players take turns going first in each game.
When a player is first, he may place any of his dominoes
face up on the table to start play.The first domino played
is called the "set".

After the set, each domino must be placed next to a
matching domino. Singles must be played end-to-end.
Doubles must cross singles. Plays can be made on either
end of a single domino and on both sides of a double
domino, but not on the ends of a double.
If a player does not have a play, he is blocked and he
passes that turn. He may not draw from the boneyard.
Play continues around the table until?.

Ending the Game, Scoring:

...one player places his last domino. At that time, he
calls "domino." The other players turn up all the
dominoes remaining in their hands and count the
dots. The total of the dots on the unplayed dominoes
of the other players is the score of the winning player
for that hand.

OR

All players still have dominoes in their hands, but none
of them can make any play. When this happens, all players
turn their dominoes face up and count the total
number of dots. The player with the lowest number of
dots wins the hand and receives a score equal to the total
number of dots on his opponents' unplayed dominoes.
(Scoring variation?Winning players score is equal to the
total number of dots on his opponents' unplayed dominoes
minus the number of dots on the dominoes he is
holding at the end of the game)
Breaking a tie: In case of a tie, the player holding the single
domino with the lowest total count is the winner.

Winning the Game:With each hand, you accumulate points. Before you
start, and depending on how long you want to play, set a
number (say 100 or 200) and the first player to reach
that total score wins the game.

GAME #2: DRAW

This is a little more sophisticated version of "Block."
Everything is the same except when a player cannot
place a domino, he must draw dominoes from the
boneyard until he gets one that he can play. All the
rest of the game remains the same. The limitation
here is that in a 2-player game, the last two dominoes
in the boneyard may not be drawn and in a 4-player
game, the very last domino in the boneyard may not
be drawn.

The play, ending the game and scoring are all the same
as in "Block"Some simple strategy notes for Block and Draw:Look at the dominoes you hold and try to play them in
such a way as to set yourself up for plays on your next
turn. If you have lots of 2s, try to play a 2 so you will be
able to match it the next time around (if someone else
doesn't get to it first).

Since you know all the dominoes in the double 6 set,
you can deduce what dominoes your opponents might
be holding by observing which dominoes have been
played and which you hold in your hand.

Winning the Game:Before you start, and depending on how long you want
to play, set a number (say 100 or 200) and the first player
to reach that score wins the game.

GAME #3: MUGGINS

This is a simple game in which you can score points
every time you play a domino.

Number of players:2, 3 or 4 may play. If 4 are playing
each may play individually or you may create two teams
of two players each.

The Objective:To outscore your opponents. You score
by adding up the count of dominoes at the ends of the
layout after each play. (explained below)

The Set-Up:Turn all dominoes face down and mix
them. Each player draws 5 dominoes and sets them up
so the others cannot see them.

The Play:As in the "Block" game above, dominoes must
be played so their ends match. Dominoes are laid end to
end except doubles which are laid across the line of play.
As in "block", you cannot play on the ends of a double
once it is placed. Play proceeds clockwise around the
table.
How to score: In Muggins, you can score each time a
domino is placed as well as at the end of the game. The
object is for the open ends of the dominoes to be a multiple
of 5. For each multiple of 5, you score one point.

Here are some examples:Open ends are 1 and 4, count is 5, score one point
Count both ends of the double 6. Open ends are 6, 6 and
3, count is 15, score is 3 points.

(also note above that the open ends of the double 5 are
not counted. A double is only counted when it is on the
end of the line of play)

Counting the score after each play When a player makes
a score after placing a domino, a scorekeeper notes the
score at that time. The running score can also be kept on
a counter or cribbage board.

Drawing from the boneyard If a player cannot place a
domino, he draws from the boneyard until he can make
a play. In a two-person game, all but two of the dominoes
in the boneyard may be drawn In a three or four-person
game, all but one of the dominoes in the boneyard may
be drawn.

Ending the hand The first player to use all his tiles calls
"domino" and this ends the hand. If no player can play
his last domino and the boneyard has been depleted
down to one or two dominoes (see "drawing from the
boneyard" above), the hand is over.

Scoring at the end of the hand When the hand is
over, the player (or team) with the lowest number of
dots on their remaining dominoes receives additional
points based on the number of dots in the opponents
hands.

For every multiple of 5 dots in the opponents hands,
the winner receives one point. For a count of 1 or 2
above a multiple of 5, there is no additional score. For
a count of 3 or 4 above a multiple of 5, round up to
the nearest 5.

For example?Opponents dot count is 5, score 1
Opponents dot count is 7, score 1
Opponents dot count is 8, score 2
Opponents dot count is 12, score 2
Opponents dot count is 18, score 4Ending the game, winning: Keep playing the hands until
one player or team has 61 points. That ends the game.
Want to play longer? You can set the game ending score
at 100 or 200 or whatever you would like.

Variations on Muggins

Variation #1In the basic game, you cannot make plays
off the ends of doubles, but only off the sides. In this variation,
you are allowed to play off the ends of the first
double that is played.

Variation #2 If a player places a domino that would
result in a score (a multiple of 5 on the ends of the dominoes
played), but does not realize it, then another player
can call "Muggins" and will receive that score.

GAME #4:
FIVE-UP OR ALL FIVES

This game originated on the West Coast and is played
widely and in tournaments there, but is also well known
across the country.

Number of Players: Like Muggins, it can be played with
2, 3 or 4 players. If played by 4, each can play individually
or you can create two teams.

The Objective: Outscore your opponents. As in
Muggins you score by adding up the count of dominoes
at the ends of the layout after each
domino is played.

The Set Up:Each player starts with 5 dominoes. See
above regarding "Who Draws First, Who Plays First."

The Play:The primary difference between Five-Up and
Muggins is that the rules for placing of the dominoes
are somewhat expanded from the previous games.

As explained above, dominoes are played in a linear
fashion with the number of dots matching the
adjacent domino.
Count is 4 + 6 = 10 Score 2 points
Doubles are played at a 90 degree angle to the line of
play.
Count is 4 + 2 = 6 No score since not a multiple
of 5

Each end of a single domino may be played on only
once, and then the numbers on that domino are "cut off"
for scoring purposes. Only score based on the dots at the
ends of the line of play.
Count is 3 + 4 = 7 No score since not a multiple
of 5

A double may be played on both sides and both ends
before it is cut off
The original
5-5 is cut off.
The count is
2 + 4 + 1 + 0 = 7
(no score since not a multiple of 5)

After a double is played on in this way, you can continue
to build along the new line of play. This creates many
more possibilities for play.

Scoring is the same as in Muggins. Count the open ends
of the dominoes that have been placed. If the count is a
multiple of 5, divide by 5 and that is your score. Here is
an example.
Open ends are
6 +5 + 4+ 0 = 15
Score 3 points.

Ending the Game, Winning: The game ends when any
player places his last domino.At that point, that player (or
team) adds to its score based on the number of dots on the
dominoes in the opponents' hands. (when playing in
teams, you do not add the number of dots remaining in
your teammate's hand) Here are the rules for this process.
For every multiple of 5 dots in the opponents hands, the
winner receives one point. For a count of 1 or 2 above a
multiple of 5, there is no additional score. For a count of
3 or 4 above a multiple of 5, round up to the nearest 5.

If the game is blocked (all players still have
dominoes, but nobody can make a play), the game ends
and the player (or team) with the lowest number of dots
on the dominoes held collects points (based on the formula
above) based on the dominoes in the opponents
hands.

Game is over when one player or team reaches
a total of 61 points.

BEYOND THE BASICS

Here are some thoughts and resources for your
further consideration.

The very best writer on dominoes and domino strategy
we have ever known is Dominic C. Armanino.
Unfortunately, all the books he wrote are out of print,
but you can still obtain some of them through Amazon.
His classic is called "Dominoes?Five-Up and Other
Games Including Official Rules and Odds." This book
explains the Five-Up game beautifully and in detail and
then walks you through many strategic considerations
that will help you to be a better player. It was
published in paperback under the Tartan Imprint and by
David McKay Company. If you are into this game, you'll
enjoy these books. Another good title from him is
"Popular Domino Games" published by Van Rees.While
not as extensive, it does give clear instructions for a number
of good domino games.

The most extensive book containing the rules of many
domino games is called "The Great Book of Domino
Games" by Jennifer A. Kelley. The good thing about this
book is that it is in print and you can get it on Amazon.
If you want to expand the range of games you know how
to play, this book is a good choice. It will give you the
basics of many games.

SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS?

These rules were put together as best we could from
the information we could find.We may have missed
something, and if we did, we hope you'll tell us about
it. For corrections or useful additions, send us a letter
or an email. (addresses are on front) and we'll keep
making these instructions better based on your
thoughts.